Vacuum-Tube Launchers and Boosters

Abstract

Systems are being developed to Investigate the feasibility of using an evacuated (vacuum) tube as either a launcher or booster for small to medium size projectiles. Two eight-inch diameter tubes are being fabricated to propel a one-to three-pound meteorological probe into the lower atmosphere. A 70-foot long tube can propel this projectile to approximately 7000 feet above ground level, while a 20-foot tube will send the same projectile to an altitude of approximately 3500 feet. A vacuum tube may be used to impart initial velocities in the range of 300 to 500 ft/sec to the ARCAS. This increased launch velocity will result in a 10 to 20 percent increase in peak altitude, with a simultaneous reduction in wind effect of 30 to 60 percent.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0715350

Entities

People

  • Louis D. Dunca
  • William J. Vechione

Organizations

  • Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundary Layer
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Electron Tubes
  • Elevation
  • Equations
  • High Altitude
  • Launchers
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Models
  • New Mexico
  • Physical Properties
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Projectiles
  • Research Facilities
  • Turbulence

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • ballistics.